Fifth-wheel



(No Model.)

q. H. YOUNG FIFTH WHEEL.

No. 307,894. Patented Nov. 11, 1884.

1720a)? toe.

UNITE STATES GEORGE H. YOUNG, OF DAVENPORT, IO\VA.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,894, dated November11, 1884.

Application filed July 17, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. YOUNG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Fifth-\Vheels or Circle-Platesfor Connecting the Front Axle of Four-\Wheeled Vehicles to the Gearing,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of fifthwheels which areconstructed and adapted for use in cases where the king-bolt is locatedin front of the axle, and is passed through circle-plates,which are alsoprojected in front of the axle; and the invention consists in certainfeatures of construction hereinafter described, and specifically setforth in the claims.

The object of my invention is to obviate the rocking or side motion nowcommon in wagons, and, further, to provide a safety-hook which, inconnection with interlocking circleplates, will hold the axle-gearingtogether if the king-bolt should be removed or broken. I attain theseobjects inthe mannerillustrated in the accompanying drawings,in whichsimilar letters of reference indicatelike parts.

Figure l is a perspective view of a part of a wagon embodying myinvention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

A is the axle. Bis the head-block, G the spring, and D the reach.

E is the upper circle-plate attached to the head-block K and reach D,and F is the lower circleplate fastened to the axle A. Both of theseplates E and F extend in front of the axle, and have a large workingsurface,which, together with the hollow stems a b, which form parts ofthe upper and lower plates, re

spectively, and through which the king-bolt G is passed, obviates therocking motion.

H is the safety-hook, secured at one end to the reach D, and passingdown under the axle is bent up and fastened to the top plate, E. Thebottom of the hollow stem 1) on bottom plate, F, fits into the lug c onthe upper surface of safety-hook H, which holds said hollow stem 7) inposition. On the upper surface of bottom circle-plate, F, is anotherspherical lug, (Z, which fits into the upper plate, E, and, inconnection with hook H, prevents the two circle-plates E F fromseparating, and thereby holds the axle and gearing together when theking-bolt G is broken or removed.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that thebolt G is neither taperednor shouldered at any point below its angular or square head, so thatthe full strength thereof is utilized, and ease of manufacture thereofis secured. The lower end of the bolt is screwthreaded, as also is thebolt-passage through the safety-hook or brace H, so that by turning thehead of the bolt the plates E F and hook H are firmly bound together,rendering the nut on the bolt below the hook either unnecessary or withmerelythe function of a set-nut. The function of the recessed lug c ofthe safetyhook is, primarily, to form, in connection with the stem I), apermanent kingbolt, or parts that act as such in the absence or breakageof the bolt G, said parts in such case being held in operative positionby the connection therewith of the safety-hook at the top of the plateE, at the bottom of the stem 1), at the bottom of the axle A, and at thebottom of the reach D.

I am aware that the king-bolt has heretofore been placed in front of theaXlein wagons and thrashing-machines, and I do not, therefore, claimsuch a device, broadly, as my invention; but

Vhat I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

l. The combination of the plate E, having the hollow stem a, terminatingbelow the upper surface of the head-block, and the plate F, having thehollow stem 1), said stems being located in front of the axle, with thesafety-hook I-I, having the recessed lug c, and secured to the plate Eand to the reach D, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the safety-hook H, secured to and extending fromthe reach to upper circle-plate, and having an intermediate recessedlug, 0, the plate F, having the hollow stem b, resting in said recess,and the bolt G, substantially as-specified.

3. The upper circle-plate, E, secured to the reach and bolster, incombination with the lower circle-plate, F, secured to the axle,

and the safety hook H, connected with both neetecl with the lower end ofthe slezn of the plates, the axle, and the reach, substantially plate F,and secured to the top of the plate as specified. E, substantially asspecified.

4. The combination of the plates E and F, GEORGE H. YOUNG. 5 each havinghollow stems located in front of Witnesses:

the axle, and the latter having the lug d,with WALTER CHAMBERS,

the safety hook H, secured to the reach, con- XV. H. FLUKE.

